PAUL IRVING admits he has been stunned by Caley's start to the campaign but explains why he was just a little bit frustrated by Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad.

Graeme Shinnie has been outstanding in Inverness over the past few seasons (Photo: Paul Currie/Action Images)

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IF you’d asked the majority of ICT supporters a few months ago their feelings towards the coming campaign, trepidation would be a recurring theme.

Last season, the football was slow, dull and lifeless, where it seemed like passing the ball sideways and backwards was more important than scoring goals.

The pinnacle of this was the regular “pass around the defence” tactic which would inevitably lead to attracting opposition pressure and lead to a final pass back to the keeper who would thump it up the park.

Many fans would also have said that the chances of a top six finish this year were slim and Yogi would be lucky to survive the season. Changed days indeed.

ICT have had a sensational start. The football has mostly been great to watch. The fans are happy, we’re scoring goals, keeping clean sheets and the players look fitter than they have for years. If Hughes can keep this up, history may well be made.

When I say that, I don’t mean another top six finish. I mean qualifying for Europe for the first time ever and possibly even a major trophy.

As mentioned in previous articles, all the team lacks is another striker but I’m led to believe that Hughes really is searching but will only sign one if they can win a place in the starting eleven and keep it.

Another major talking point recently is the case of Graeme Shinnie. How this guy doesn’t even seem to be being considered for Scotland is unfathomable. And it’s not the first time we’ve had this occurrence.

Craig Dargo was a great striker for us and there was talk of him getting a call-up, but it never came. Another example is Mark Brown. Some people might forget what a good keeper he was for ICT before he left for Celtic and became a Premiership journeyman. He deserved a call-up too, but it never came.

It’s always more difficult for players at the “unglamourous clubs”. At the time of his Scotland call-up, Callum MacGregor had made three appearances for Celtic after a season at Notts County.

He’s undoubtedly a good player, but what’s he done that Shinnie or Gary Mackay-Steven or Stevie May haven’t? The answer of course, is play for one of the Old Firm. This favouritism is unfair and possibly even detrimental to the Scotland team overall.